Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1887-03-22
RoopLER cLEARx,s TRIAL.
His Counsel Denounces the Editor of
the World In Round Terms-Testf-

| His Counsel Denoumces the Editor OF
| the World In Round Terms-Testf-
mony fer the Defense Commenced.
NEW YORK, March 21.-The prossction in
the trial of ex-Alderman Clsary for bribery
finished their case day by the introduction
| of some formal proof. Mr.. Shafer then open
ed the case for Cleary in a very vigorous
speech in which he denounced the press for
assuming before the trial that his client was
guilty. Mr.. Shafer made an especially bitter
attack upon the world, which has expended
considerable effort in illustrating Mr.. Shafer's
peculiarities of manner.
Mr.. Shsfer declared that there was but one
newspaper in the city that had not demand
ed the conviction of Cleary every day since
the trial began. He added: An Albany
judge dismissed case to another county
even after part of the jury had been OBJ
tanned, because the Evening journal had said
tibet day that the accused was guilty and
should be convicted. A Troy Judge did the
same thing in another case. The papers
have tried this case and found Cleary guilty.
The World has become perfectly infamous in
its conduct in trials. One man says: "Shafer,
who do you not shoot the Hungarian jews"
Another asks, why don't you horsewhip
himr I shan't do either one. But I'll get
even with the Jew. Justice will prevail
against -" Here the thoroughly irate
counsellor was brought to stop by the rapid
tattoo of Justice Barrett's gavel on the desk.
''Mr. Shafer, think you have gone far
enough. The jury have not seen any of the
papers. You are talking to them about
things of which they can know nothing"
said the court.
"Well do not know. L"
"Well, I know. The jurors have seen
nothing of this You must desist, ;" said his
honor.
Mr.. Shafer said: ''I bow in submission to
your honor. 1 will go no further" and then
he resumed his speech. Mr.. Shafer returned
to the assault on the testimony of Katie Metz,
opening with the startling shrek: "Every
paper in the city said in flaming headlines,
yesterday Katie Metz sustained. You know
how she was sustained. How she could re-
member five faces seen at dark for two and
half years, but could not remember.the names
of the families she had served" Then turn
ing upon the twenty reporters around the
long table he shouted: "There they are!
There they arel There are the burning gem
fuses of the press! There is not one of 'em
you'd trust in your house-except the fat
man."
Mr.. Shafer had out the Graphic with the
pictures of the boodlers. He called the at
tention of the jury to the pictures of Cleary
"Jaehne has face you will always remem-
Der. He is marked man. Why did not
Kate Metz remember him? rll tell you; he
was in State prison. They did not need to
identify him. Her mind was not prepared
by Robertson and Purdy to recognize aehne.
But she did recognize John Cleary. He had
not been convicted yet" Mr.. Shafer opened
at II: 30 and it was 1906 o'clock when he
finished and recess was taken. For fully
ten minutes after the jury had gone
to luncheon Mr.. Shsfer mopped his
perspiring head with his handkerchief
and emitted CALCULATIONS and anathemas
of the press representatives and Joseph Pu-
liter. "Just wait till this is over" he said.
'sJust wait till we get through. Wall till
get at this Pulitzer. He'll either lick me or
I'll lick him."
The frst witness in behalf of Cleary was
Edward A. Rierson, who has had charge of
the mortgages of the Equitable and known
Cleary for twenty years. He stated that
Cleary purchased two houses in Fifteenth
street for $50, 600, paying $4,000 and owing
s12, 900 on mortgage to the Equitable COM
pany. In 1882 he sold one of the houses and
paid up all but $4,000 of the mortgages.
Cleary paid in large bills. He habitually
kept his money in his house Several wit
nesses were called to testify to Cleary's good
character.